Towards Preserving Our Mother Tongue
A.I.K.S., A Potential Thrust

Dr. B. K. Moza

Introduction

Consequent to the fundamentalist terrorism in
Kashmir, there has been a compelling exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from their
ancient homeland. Presently this suffering community is in exile; most of them
being in dilapidated dwellings in camps as internally displaced refugees in
their own country or as migrants in scattered locations over here or abroad.
Besides having lost their hearths and homes, preservation of their cultural
heritage and their identity is, obviously, at stake. Being an infinitesimally
small minority every where, their identity is threatened. The prospects of their
rehabilitation in their own homeland are not in view in near future. However, it
is a great tragedy if this community loses its glorious cultural heritage and
tradition also. To preserve their cultural identity particularly its most
important aspect, the mother tongue, is an uphill task unless there is a strong
will and joint effort to do so. It is not possible individually or for any
single community Association to uphold various aspects of our culture. For this
a joint effort of all the organizations of Kashmiri Pandits, located at various
places globally, is necessary. To coordinate these individual units, it was
deemed very necessary to have a Federation of all the community organizations
scattered globally to cater to their common agenda of preserving their roots and
cultural heritage. With this in view, All India Kashmiri Samaj (A.I.K.S)
was established as a central federation of all the scattered units affiliated to
it for certain common objectives. In an earlier article, entitled "AIKS : A
Potential Movement of Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora "published in the 34th
Annual of Vitasta, 2000, (pages 93-96), the role of AIKS was detailed. With a
view to rejuvenating this Organization and the Movement it is deemed to
spearhead, another article, "AIKS A Potential Movement Still To Gain
Momentum" was written by me which has appeared in Kshir Bhawani Times,
Jammu, the Koshur Gazette, New Delhi, Milchar, Bombay and soon it is to appear
in some more community publications. There are no alternatives to this
Organization of federal recognition for providing much needed thrust to our
common objectives. In this article it has been mentioned that AIKS should
address to only limited agenda of common interest to the total community, spread
globally. One of such common agenda is preserving our mother tongue for which a
great effort is required by all of us jointly. It requires an adequate
infrastructure of resources, human and financial, an innovative planning and
time bound action-plan for implementation and follow up . This is possible if we
have an appropriately strong federal organization, having the in-built objective
of carrying along, its affiliates and providing them the much-needed leadership,
direction and wherewithal. Preserving our mother tongue in global Diaspora is an
urgent agenda. With this in view the above mentioned article is reproduced below
to emphasize on the revitalisation of AIKS and thereby the thrust AIKS can
provide, as the Apex Body, towards the preservation of our mother tongue:

"Original Background

All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) was founded two decades back in 1980. The
prpose was to have an Apex Body to coordinate the activities of Kashmiri Pandit
organizations set up locally in various parts of the country and abroad. The
emphasis of these units, at that time, was more on preserving Kashmiri Pandit
identity locally amongst the community members who had migrated from Kashmir for
earning their bread & butter or for finding better opportunities etc.
Therefore the objectives of these units at that time were essentially, social,
cultural and economic. The Apex Body, AIKS, was established to coordinate the
activities of these local units for their common agenda keeping their
commonalties in view. It was assumed that the local units would have a greater
accent on the local issues and day to day problems faced by them locally.
However, there was at the same time an upsurge, as intense as a responsibility,
deeply invoked in them. It was about maintaining rapport with the roots in
Kashmir and within the Diaspora for the purpose of bringing about cohesion
amongst the community members for identifying and solving the common issues to
the best interests of the community. The ultimate objective, however, being to
preserve the health and identity of the community.

In the year 1989-90 there was an unexpected upheaval in Kashmir caused by the
fundamentalist terrorism over there. This community being an infinitesimally
small minority, it became the soft target for murder, arson, loot and all that
is associated with the distressing terrorism, having its roots in the well
planned strategy of proxy war, unleashed by our Islamic neighbour. This forced
them to leave their hearths and homes in their homeland as a minority community
and take refuge elsewhere for the security of their lives, safety of their
honour particularly of their women-folk and for their livelihood. Though
presumed to be a temporary displacement, it has continued with the full fury of
distress for last eleven years with increasing setbacks. This internal
displacement of this community, because of the fundamentalist terrorism in their
homeland, added another dimension of responsibility to these local units of
Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora. It was relief and refuge to the distressed community
members, their rehabilitation, establishing their minority status, enabling
their return to homeland and preserving the identity under distressingly adverse
conditions. This community being infinitesimally small in numbers, it did not
represent any vote bank and as such bringing political awareness and awakening
to their distress, amongst those who mattered, shaped as a vital pre-requisite
for the existence of this community. In 1991 therefore, for AIKS, the political
agenda also shaped as the most priority one to ensure rights of safety,
survival, and existence of the uprooted members of this community and for
enabling, at an appropriate date, their honourable return to the homeland.
Accordingly, AIKS assumed the expected role in 1991 to coordinate, as the Apex
Body, its thirty-eight affilated units for the social, economic and also
political objectives that confronted the community at that time. It was evident
that this distress shock would bring awareness in the community towards its
shortcomings and bring about leadership amongst them. AIKS was strengthened as
the Apex Body with the hope that it would fill the leadership vacuum that has
been maligning this community historically. AIKS duly assumed the responsibility
in right spirit and called for this purpose the historical Jaipur Convention in
1991. It organized definite efforts at mobilizing the resources, both material
and man power, brought about awakening and awareness to the magnitude of the
Kashmiri Pandit distress and created a need for a united effort amongst the
community members and their political and social organizations towards the
emergent issues, particularly the relief and rehabilitation of the uprooted
brethren, displaced internally. The problem before AIKS was definitely too big
for it to solve; but it did make a resolute effort to attempt finding means and
ways to solve it. In true sense it shaped as a remarkable movement of the
century so far as Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora is concerned.

Present Scenario

This upsurge is continuing, AIKS is doing as per its claims a reasonably
creditable job, the thirty eight units are not only thriving but these have
multiplied to a still bigger number; many community news papers, journals and
news letters are getting circulated with ever increasing passion for numbers.
Each one is giving a feeling of being the last word in excellence and each
organization is highlighting its special contribution to Kashmiri Pandit cause.
There is undoubtedly an improved awareness to Kashmiri Pandit distress, there
are seminars and symposia held at various places and at various platforms,
focussing the role an individual organization is playing for the Kashmiri Pandit
welfare. But the Kashmiri Pandit problem is static, if not worse, so far as
rehabilitation, preservation of community identity and homeland issues are
concerned. AIKS is also contented with the role it is playing. Its official
organ, Naad, cried hoarse with gasping breathlessness for financial panacea,
which apparently did not become available and as a result it has closed down;
may be temporarily or, God forbidding, permanently. As reported in Koshur
Samachar (June, 2000 pg. 3) AIKS had its main function of having elections in
its poorly attended AGM, held on 13th and 14th May this
year. But it did not make any significant contribution to the cause to which it
is dedicated nor did it add any new dimension to the issues that have been
plaguing the community for quite sometime. Sunder Vani, Chandigarh (Vol. V, No
II, June 2000) and Milchar, Bombay (April 2000) have detailed these viewpoints
vividly. The Sunder Vani has explained the dismay and disillusion about the
problems facing us. It is true, as explained therein, that these problems cannot
be solved individually by Samitis and Sabhas; for this, a strong centre and a
strong working group is needed and in this context the role of the apex
organization AIKS comes into play and this requires, undoubtedly, to be
strengthened. The Chandigarh publication further explains the widely felt
anguish as "We have no consistency. We come to meet, we discuss and we
resolve. In our resolutions we are active and sometimes over-active but
unfortunately at the end of the day we return to being inactive. In 1998 AGM
held at Chandigarh, a Zonal Conference was formed by AIKS, which never took off,
etc." The Vitasta, Kolkata (Vol. XXXIII, 2000, Pgs., 93-97) has made an
objective analysis, which was intended to be presented and discussed in this
annual meeting of AIKS. This, however, was not discussed because reportedly Naad
could not publish it for circulation to enable its discussion in this meeting.
The Kheer Bhawani Times, Jammu, the Kashmir Sentinel and the Koshur Gazette duly
highlighted the proceedings of this Annual meeting. The Vitasta (June 2000)
whilst reporting on this meeting of AIKS recorded its great concern on the
breathlessness of Naad. Surprisingly AIKS meets only once in a year to discuss
such matters; there are no monthly Executive Meetings either unless there is an
emergency. So all constructive agenda is remaining for future consummation;
there is generally limited follow up of what has been committed nor any
meaningful review. There are meagre directions, action plans and such impacts as
are required of an apex organization with global affiliations.

Wide-spread Concern

These are the facts which are presented with great concern, anxiety and
involvement and these reveal, to call a spade a spade, that AIKS is not
performing the expected and intended role as the Apex Body and there is no other
organization endowed to perform this role. This organization has fatigued out as
a player in the field, leave aside captaining the community organizations, as
originally proposed and accordingly built in its constitution. Our problems are
aggravating and these require a united, adequate and representative action by
the Kashmiri Pandit organizations, scattered globally. And for this, very
justifiably, all look to Apex Body for global mobilization. The ceremonial
hoop-la and ornamental positioning are momentarily pleasant and indeed a great
consolation. Yet, an Apex Body will be assessed only for its result-oriented
performance at a different level of objectives for which it has been formed.
Accordingly its performance may be remarkable as one amongst many others but
that will not be creditable since it will be valued only for its contributions
as an Apex Body.

The question arises can we afford this sad state of affairs? True, there are
some affiliated or may be dissociated and unaffiliated units of AIKS which are
playing a very significant role. That is a silver lining to this, otherwise,
dark cloud; and an encouraging feature indeed. But none of these is having the
objective of co-ordinating all the Kashmiri Pandit organizations for our
commonly faced problems and issues. AIKS is the only organization, which has
that built in objective, mandate and inherent potential to play this role. No
thoughtful analysis will object to the growth of so many organizations, some
playing the expert role for some cause pertaining to the community health and
welfare. Though excellence is the essential ingredient, there is no serious
objection to having, as reported (MIlchar, Bombay, July, 2000) mushroom growth
of official organs and publications belonging to the community organizations and
individuals. The fact is some of these are playing a definite special role or
some of these by themselves may be the role models. But what is of utmost
concern in the present context is that there is none, which is playing the role
of a coordinator for achieving a united effort for highlighting the common
agenda and an organized action programme of the community. The conclusion again
emerges that there is one and only one organization, AIKS, and one and only one
official publication, the Naad, which can play the coordinating role and a
coordinating link to bring about community leadership and response for solving
the problems and issues that our community at large, is presently facing.

Conclusive Measures

Kashmiri Pandits have a history of deep-rooted pathology of individualism and
a record of prolonged sufferings as a consequence. Thee is, however, an
awakening and some change in attitudes visible in this connection. But what has
been achieved is not sufficient for the purpose. Much more is required at
leadership level and there is no alternative to achieving this if we desire to
survive as a community with glorious heritage, rehabilitate our uprooted and
devastated brethren, achieve a homeland for ourselves and preserve our cultural
identity particularly the mother tongue globally. So, without elaborating any
further our problems and seeking any solution to these, what I am highlighting
herein is the need for an appropriate Apex Body. What is required is a strong
organization, having a clear objective of safeguarding the interests of Kashmiri
Pandits. Very sadly, the present objectives of AIKS do not at all reveal clearly
a Kashmiri Pandit connection. These, therefore, require to be modified,
redefined, freshly constituted and prioritized to meet our present requirements.
The Apex Body has to be very strong and representative as far as possible,
dedicatedly addressing to only few agenda, which are of critical importance to
the community in totality. It may not neessarily attend to all the details
itself; its frontal affiliated units have to be entrusted with and fully
invovled to perform on the concerned agenda of our Apex Body at the frontal
focal points, wherever these may be, but under the coordination of AIKS. In this
context the AIKS will be the motivator and monitor to assess the progress made,
mobilize the resources of ideas, global, financial and otherwise support, and
keep all the units together for the few agenda which are essential and
indispensable for the existence and identity of our community. It is equally
important, as its function, to keep the intra and inter channels of information
and communication alive amongst the community organizations scattered globally.
It has to play the role of a Coordinator whose involvement will be seen as
indispensable in all these respects. Its role has to be that of a director who
may not be visible on the stage but whose determining performance and the
quintessential overall impact will be felt throughout the play. This is not an
easy task but this is what is expected of an Apex Body. And to deserve this
privileged position it has to work out its own methodology, wherewithal and all
that is required to bring about an appropriate impact. We all have to come
together and brainstorm as to how we can achieve this objective. It is more a
management subject of Organizational Leadership and once there is a strong
organization with strong leadership one can hope all the problems will get
systematically attended to, ironed out and therefore solved. We have very
serious problems and issues before us and the first step to solving these is to
rejuvenate and strengthen the Organization that is necessary for this. I repeat
it has to be dedicated, well-structured, youthful, globally representing and
coordinating, having Kashmiri Pandit as the soul object of all objectives. AIKS
is constituted for this role very thoughtfully and, therefore, all Kashmiri
Pandit organizations have to come together and make AIKS a dream come true; a
functional, meaningful and well performing Apex Body of Kashmiri Pandit
organizations. It is a great movement of the century but this has yet to take
off. Our well being lies in creating conditions that will enable its thrust as
the very productive Apex Body of Kashmiri Pandit organizations."

Conclusively, the views expressed in the above article highlight the role
AIKS is expected to play as an Apex Body. Preservation of our mother tongue is a
typical agenda waiting for such co-ordination. Citing an example, about two
years back, Kashmir Sabha, Calcutta took an initiative for organizing a brain
storm for stream-lining the Devnagri script for Kashmiri language. AIKS admired
this initiative and at the same time requested for this being the agenda of the
Apex Body. Accordingly, this was left agreeably and more appropriately, to our
Apex Body to organize a result oriented action plan and follow up. It is very
distressing to note that till now there has been no further feed back from our
Apex Body who wished to have this as a central agenda. As per available
information, till now no purposeful action has at all been taken by our Apex
Body. However, the concerned experts, independent of AIKS, have worked hard on
this agenda and commendably streamlined and simplified the Devnagri script for
our mother tongue and also made it computer friendly for typing purposes. Though
great, this is not all, so far as achieving the ultimate objective is concerned.
A classical example of what is missing is that, in the meantime, Bombay Kashmiri
Pandit Association on their own initiative and in the absence of any further
communication, developed a Kashmiri Primer in Devnagri script, at a great cost
of effort and expense, using the old and presently superseded recommendations.
This is a great loss that could have easily been avoided with timely
communication. Leaving aside what has happened, what is more important now is
that our Apex Body co-ordinates the implementation of this streamlined script
for use by all the journals of our community Associations, having Kashmiri
sections and for uniform implementation by our writers, teachers and learners
through its affiliated units. Duplication of efforts, requiring very costly
resources, can be thus avoided if we have a meaningful Apex Body to co-ordinate
centrally the action plans for global implementation. This will require
organizing, through the experts, necessary instruction manuals, an updated
Kashmiri Primer, simpler teaching aids etc for uniform application. A separate
financial resource can be created for this purpose. Every thing is available but
what is missing is a strong organization and leardership to utilize the
available resources meaningfully. AIKS has to gain momentum and take off
appropriately as a strong federal organization of Kashmiri Pandits to
co-ordinate and provide requisite thrust to such urgent and identified issues as
are required for the survival of our community and its cultural aspects.
Preservation of our tongue is very important in this context.

[The author is the Editor in Chief of Vitasta, the official organ of
Kashmir Sabha, Kolkata]

Kashmiri Overseas Association, Inc. (KOA) is a 501c(3) non-profit, tax-exempt socio-cultural organization registered in Maryland, USA. Its purpose is to protect, preserve, and promote Kashmiri ethnic and socio-cultural heritage, to promote and celebrate festivals, and to provide financial assistance to the needy and deserving.